So, you own a beloved set of wheels that has been crossing the threshold of your driveway, day and night, for many a year. Or, you may have purchased a used car – in good working order, perhaps, but undoubtedly old. The question then arises, how does one maintain a car that has seen its milometer spinning up into the hundreds of thousands? It is a very good question to ask. Indeed, care of an old car is quite a different matter from caring for a new one – that much is obvious. But things become less obvious when we delve into just what old car maintenance entails.
Unfortunately, the number of things that could potentially go wrong with a car only multiplies as the car ages. Nevertheless, individuals regularly hang on to cars, for all sorts of reasons, and people also regularly buy older cars, so learning how to care for a car that has seen some wear is undoubtedly a wise move.
Acquiring a Used Car
In the case of those buying used cars, it helps to get one that is at least in a road-going state at the point of purchase. The whole point about car maintenance is to prevent costly problems from arising in the first place – not dealing with them after they have already happened.
The best advice is to ensure you are dealing with a reputable dealership. The best dealerships have the resources to restore cars to a road-worthy condition ahead of any sale and usually will restore a traded-in car that is in poor shape. It makes economic sense for them to do this, as large dealerships have the requisite facilities and the demand to buy restoration materials in bulk, making the process highly cost effective. They then sell the car for more than they paid for it. Be sure to find a dealership successful enough to perform this servicebecause it is the essence of a win-win situation. CarFastCash, a southern Californian dealership with outlets in Los Angeles, Kern Country, Riverside County, and more, says they always sell used cars in a roadworthy condition. They offer the following tips for older car maintenance.
Keep Up with the Manufacturer’s Maintenances Advice
If you have access to it, the manufacturer’s manual is your friend. Herein you will find certain recommendations for continued personal maintenance.By continuing to adhere to this, you can significantly extend the life your vehicle without major restoration. If you cannot find your manufacturer’s manual, then why not have a hunt online?
Consider the Engine and the Timing Belt
If you own an older car, then you will likely have one of two engines – an interference or a non-interference engine. It is the interference engines that you have to watch out for. If the timing belt breaks in one of these, then the necessary engine repair can be very costly. Accordingly, you should replace the timing belt every 1000,000 miles, even if it hasn’t broken. This will be much less costly.
Fill Up with High Octane Gas Once a Year
This is a great tip. By filling up a full tank with high-octane gas once a year, you can clean out gunk from the pistons and the catalytic converter. These are two of the costliest things to repair, so preparing for this eventuality is a wise move.
Ultimately, if you’re keeping an old car around far beyond the point when most would trade it in, then it’s clear that you are attached to it. Perhaps the best tip of all, then, is to make that maintenance a labor of love.
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